ORIGINAL ARTICLES  EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MEDICINE 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2016 June;56(6):758-64

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Confirmatory factorial analysis of the Children’s Attraction to Physical Activity Scale

Ana C. SEABRA ¹, José A. MAIA ¹, Melissa PARKER ², André SEABRA ³, Robert BRUSTAD ², António M. FONSECA ¹ ✉

¹ Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sports, University of Porto, Portugal; ² College of Natural & Health Sciences, Sport and Exercise Science, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, USA; ³ Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Portugal

BACKGROUND: Attraction to physical activity (PA) is an important contributor to children´s intrinsic motivation to engage in games, and sports. Previous studies have supported the utility of the Children´s Attraction to PA Scale (CAPA) but the validity of this measure for use in Portugal has not been established. The purpose of this study was to cross-validate the shorter version of the CAPA Scale in the Portuguese cultural context.
METHODS: A sample of 342 children (8-10 years of age) was used. Confirmatory factor analyses using EQS software (version 6.1) tested three competing measurement models: a single-factor model, a five factor model, and a second order factor model.
RESULTS: The single-factor model and the second order model showed a poor fit to the data. It was found that a five-factor model similar to the original one revealed good fit to the data (S-Bχ2(67)=94.27, P=0.02; NNFI=0.93; CFI=0.95; RMSEA=0.04; 90%CI=0.02;0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that the CAPA Scale is valid and appropriate for use in the Portuguese cultural context. The availability of a valid scale to evaluate attraction to PA at schools should provide improved opportunities for better assessment and understanding of children’s involvement in PA.